After conducting a detailed study on the geographical condition and the waterlogging menace the BMC has failed to resolve the issue.
Mumbai : The demographic shape of Mumbai is such that most of the areas of the city are low-lying areas. Therefore, during monsoon the issue of waterlogging becomes a major problem. After conducting a detailed study on the geographical condition and the waterlogging menace the BMC has failed to resolve the issue.
The problem can be resolved by constructing pumping stations in and around the city. Laxman Vatkar, Chief Engineer of the Storm Water and Drain Management (SWDM) department, stated that the major issue for the civic body is land procurement. Mangroves, salt pan land makes the construction of pumping stations more difficult. Like for instance Mahul pumping station and Mogra (Santacruz) pumping station could provide relief to Kurla, Nehru Nagar of central suburbs and Antop hill part of Island city. But both are stuck in the land procurement process.
After the 2005 deluge in which 200 people lost their lives, the BMC planned the Brihanmumbai Storm Water Disposal System (BRIMSTOWAD) project under which the civic body decided to develop eight pumping stations, capable of flushing extra water during heavy rains. After a struggle of twelve years and facing many obstacles the BMC somehow managed to start six pumping stations out of eight. The Mogra and Mahul pumping stations are still in limbo and facing the same problem.
One of the senior civic officers of the BMC remarked, “To develop eight pumping stations the civic body faced many problems. Litigation process, permission from Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and other departmental procedures delay projects. The pumping stations should be near the creek area so that the water can be flushed out directly. But these sites have mangroves which delays projects. Ultimately the civic body and the SWDM department is being slammed.”
Mumbai city has six pumping stations which have been started to protect the respective areas from flooding. The pumping stations are at Haji Ali, Irla (Juhu), Love Grove and Cleveland Bunder (both at Worli), Britannia (Reay Road), Gajdarbandh (Khardanda) pumping stations.
Though the BMC after a long struggle managed to start six pumping stations. it continued to hire dewatering pumps this year too to prevent water accumulation.
This year the civic body hired 313 de-watering pumps as compared to 260 last year. However, Vatkar defended the moved and said, “As a safety measure these 313 pumps have been hired.”
Civic councillors slam the BMC
The councillors of the BMC slammed the SWDM department for their repeated failure and alleged that they have wasted taxpayers’ money as the constructed pumpings stations have faulty design due to which the waterlogging problem is same this year too and also after spending Rs500 crore the corporation is hiring pumps. Raees Shaikh, a Samajwadi Party corporator, raised this question in a meeting. The BMC was seeking approval of its members to impose a fine on a contractor as he delayed the deadline for completing the Cleveland pumping station. However, Raees asked whether corporation is imposing a fine on the contractor for delaying the project work or for faulty design.
